Wright Is Right: Autism Has Become An Epidemic

Bob Wright co-founder of Autism Speaks testified before ta US National Congress  committee and made a number of important points including what is obvious to those who are actually paying attention to autism realities: autism has become an epidemic.  The usual suspects, those autism researchers who study whatever suits them, whatever narrow issue they find interesting or can build a career around, remain in denial. The deniers have no solid evidence to support their position.  It is really quite simple. They are wrong.  Autism is an epidemic. Wright is right.

Parents and other family members with 24/7 responsibility for caring for the autistic children we love can not ignore autism realities. Many of us can see the autism epidemic and we can not redefine our children's challenges out of existence by amending the DSM every few years. (Yesterday the APA voted to accept the new DSM5 including the New Autism Spectrum Disorder that will expel many with autism and intellectual disability and complete the reshaping of Asperger's as Autism.) We can not pretend autism is not a disorder or that gee whiz autism always existed.  We are not comforted by the idle speculation that all of history's  scientific, literary and artistic geniuses are all examples of "the autism advantage".

We must deal with reality, autism reality, in all its manifestations.  Many  parents, grandparents and other family members caring for autistic loved ones can not and do not ignore the reality that autism numbers are increasing. When Bob Wright addressed a US Congressional committee and spoke about the autism epidemic he spoke a truth that is obvious to many parents, grandparents and family members: there is an autism epidemic. Autism researchers and others who do not see the autism epidemic have simply chosen not to see it. Those who deny the existence of the autism epidemic look only at one of the elephant's toes. They do not step back and see the whole elephant.

Those who deny the autism epidemic, who blame their own periodic diagnostic definition changes, diagnostic substitution, increased awareness and those imaginary autism services that make autism a must have diagnosis see only what they want to see.  They want to see a genetic explanation for autism and they refuse to consider environmental factors.  "It's gotta be genetic" and that means there is no real increase because genes don't change that quickly.

The failed premise on which the deniers excuse their repeated failure to find a gene or genes that truly cause autism symptoms or disorders is that autism is purely genetic and that the air, water, food, we consume, the toxic chemicals used in toys, clothing, jewelry, furniture and injected into pregnant women can not really have any effect on the neurological development of our children.  That reckless assumption is the kool-aid of those who deny the existence of the autism epidemic. Many parents refuse to drink that kool-aid.

The IACC pie chart above shows that genetic autism risk research receives by far the greatest share of autism risk research funding.  "Pure" genetic research receives 63% compared to 5% for environmental risk research funding.  "Epigenetic" autism risk research receives an additional 7% of autism risk research funding for a total of 70% of genetic research compared to 5% for environmental.  Gene-environment interaction research accounts for 25% of autism risk funding.   I am a humble small town lawyer and father of a severely autistic, cognitively challenged 16+ year old son.  I can not possibly be as smart as all those clever autism researchers who manipulate statistical data and call it autism research but those numbers tell me that genetic autism risk research outweighs environmental autism risk research 12 to 1.  The autism research community has produced no substantial results in its genetic autism research despite owning the autism research funding bread basket in recent decades.  No wonder many autism researchers dig in their heels and say there is no autism epidemic. An epidemic requires environmental factors and would push funding toward a more equal balance with more dollars for autism risk factor research funding and fewer dollars for their genetic studies. The negative impact that redistribution could have on their careers is obvious.

A prime example of the career influence and "its gotta be genetic" mandate on the autism research community is the example of Dr. Peter Szatmari's reaction to the CATS, California Autism Twins Study.  Dr. Joachim Hallmayer,  who was involved with the CATS study, indicated that CATS demonstrated the importance of an environmental role in autism causation with both genetic and environmental research playing significant roles.  Prominent genetic autism risk researcher Dr. Peter Szatmari, offered a different interpretation, one that I found bizarre in light of the previously existing autism emphasis on genetics alone as explaining autism:

Dr. Joachim Hallmayer:

"“I think we now understand that both genetic and environmental factors have to be taken seriously,” said Dr. Joachim Hallmayer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford and the lead author of the new study, which is to be published in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. ....... surprisingly, mathematical modeling suggested that only 38 percent of the cases could be attributed to genetic factors, compared with the 90 percent suggested by previous studies .... And more surprising still, shared environmental factors appeared to be at work in 58 percent of the cases" 

Dr. Peter Szatmari:

“This is a very significant study because it confirms that genetic factors are involved in the cause of the disorder but it shifts the focus to the possibility that environmental factors could also be really important."

Dr. Szatmari has it backwards. His quote indicates a desperate effort to continue the funding emphasis on genetic autism research. He clearly reverses the importance of the CATS study by indicating that it confirms a genetic role in autism causation which, to my knowledge, is not in dispute.  In reality the CATS study,  as indicated by its lead author, Dr. Hallmayer, indicates that study points out the importance of environmental factors within the context of a shared gene environment interaction model of autism causation.

The significance of the autism research genetic obsession is substantial.  As long as the cult like belief that autism is 100% genetic persists it is easy to deny the existence of the autism epidemic.  When it is acknowledge that environmental factors are involved simple denial is no longer an option.

Dr. Jon Poling is a neurologist and father of Hannah Poling, an autistic child. He   and his wife, a registered nurse and lawyer, could not be written off as  irrational, hysterical parents when they sought compensation for his child's autism symptoms under the legislated process in the US.   His comments in a March 13, 2009 opinion column of the Atlanta Journal Constitution must be heeded by government decision makers and autism researchers in the US and Canada:

"Fortunately, the ‘better diagnosis’ myth has been soundly debunked. ... only a smaller percentage of this staggering rise can be explained by means other than a true increase.

Because purely genetic diseases do not rise precipitously, the corollary to a true autism increase is clear — genes only load the gun and it is the environment that pulls the trigger. Autism is best redefined as an environmental disease with genetic susceptibilities."

We should be investing our research dollars into discovering environmental factors that we can change, not more poorly targeted genetic studies that offer no hope of early intervention. Pesticides, mercury, aluminum, several drugs, dietary factors, infectious agents and yes — vaccines — are all in the research agenda."

We are long overdue in developing a A Research Strategy to Discover the Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities as advocated by Philip J. Landrigan, Luca Lambertini and Linda S. Birnbaum in April 2012.   Such a strategy will require a redressing of the imbalance in genetic and environmental autism risk funding as advocated by Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciotto.  

The denial of an autism epidemic arises directly from, and is supported by, the   "it's gotta be genetic" belief that has dominated autism research and autism risk research funding.  

We are living in an autism epidemic and it is time to find and address the causes of that epidemic.  The time is now! 

Kevin Leitch Goes Overboard, Opposes Interests of Children with Autism

Yup Kevin Leitch opposes the interests and well being of autistic children.

That is the logical conclusion of the false dichotomy Kevin Leitch creates when he accuses Bob Wright of opposing the interests ofautistic adults. Mr. Leitch has his knickers in a knot because Mr. Wright commented on the activities of a few autistic adults in disrupting a benefit and therefore in Kevin's mind he is opposed to the interests of all autistic adults. Using Kevin Logic, in attacking Bob Wright for defending a benefit for autistic children, Kevin Leitch opposes the interests and well being of autistic children.

Autism is a spectrum and some like the ASAN supporters who stepped away from their keyboards to try and disrupt a benefit to help autistic children, have abilities lacking in many severely autistic children and adults. Bob Wright said, much more politely than I would have done, that he wished his more severely impaired grandson had their abilities. That is all he said.

The protesters subscribe to an ideology promoted by a few high functioning adults with autism and Aspergers who oppose the idea of curing autism. They are not content to oppose cures for themselves. They oppose cures for other people's children and for other adults more severely impaired then them. Mr. Leitch also subscribes to this ideology and is opposed to Autism Speaks and Bob Wright. Kevin Leitch is so tied to this anti-cure ideology that he is willing to shred whatever remains of his credibility and accuse Bob Wright of being opposed to autistic adults.

Kevin Leitch's comments about Bob Wright are nonsense, pure and utter nonsense, and should not be taken seriously. Give your head a shake Kev. You are losing it.

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Autism Speaks Tackles Autism Crisis in South Florida Mar 24 - 28

Donald Trump, Bob Wright, Suzanne Wright, Melania Trump
Photo: TOWN-CRIER Online

Autism Speaks is continuing to show outstanding leadership in tackling the Autism Crisis in the US and around the world. Co-founders Bob and Suzanne Wright have joined with Donald and Melania Trump, local parents and autism advocates in organizing a South Florida autism awareness and fundraising initiative to take place during the last week in March. Autism Speaks Week, March 24-30, will include a number of activities including a Television News Series on the autism crisis of escalating rates of autism diagnoses, March 24 to 28 on NBC stations in the area, an on-line auction, ING Direct Ride Now South Florida motorcycle ride, Saturday, March 29, a telethon and broadcast of 'Autism Every Day', and a concert for Autism Speaks, headlined by Lionel Ritchie, Sunday March 20.

As stated by Bob and Suzanne Wright in TOWN-CRIER Online:

“Autism is a national health crisis that is affecting families in every corner of this country, from Florida to Alaska,” Bob Wright said. “Autism Speaks Week will shine a spotlight on the struggles of South Florida families and inform people about what they can do to improve the lives of individuals with autism in their community.” “Our hope is that this series of events will increase the level of understanding and acceptance,” Suzanne Wright added. “The money we raise will help Autism Speaks fund autism research and support community organizations here in South Florida and across the United States that provide critical services to children and adults with autism.”

The ability of Autism Speaks to generate public awareness of autism, raise funds for autism research is amazing. And now Autism Speaks is turning its considerable abilities to assisting local autism support organizations. Not content to engage in endless peurile debates over the appropriate metaphors to use in describing autism or whether to say "autistic person" or "person with autism" Autism Speaks is actually doing something constructive, in a big way, in addressing the Autism Crisis.

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Autism Every Day At The Nantucket Film Festival

'Autism Every Day' was scheduled to play this past week at the Nantucket Film Festival. The film has been a key element in the efforts by Autism Speaks and Bob and Suzanne Wright to raise autism awareness, real autism awareness, around the globe. The film generated much hostility from those who wish to portray autism as simply a natural variation, a subgroup of people with different ways, perhaps even superior ways of thinking. For daring to portray the real challenges of their autistic children's neurological disorders the parents of Autism Every day were vilified by the Neurodiversity movement on the internet.

Autism Every Day, and the courageous parents who participated in the filming, helped shatter the propaganda of the 'Autism is Beautiful' movement, the nonsense perpetrated by the Neurodiversity ideologists, those who make a career of pretending to be the voices of autistic people and those who like to hold 'acceptance projects'. For the Neurodiversity movement 'Autism Every Day' could not stand without challenge. And so they lashed out at the loving parents who appeared in the video.

Autism Every Day presented autism as it really is - a neuro-biological developmental disorder characterized by impaired communication, deficits in social interaction, and in some cases dangerous behavior. As the father of a profoundly autistic boy; a father who loves his son dearly and takes joy in each moment with him, while dealing with the hard realities of his autism, I thank the Autism Every Day parents for their courage and candor.

I hope they and their children are doing well.

Leadership Counts; Thank You Autism Speaks

Leadership counts.

Autism Speaks has filled a leadership vacuum with its effective leadership on behalf of autism. Autism awareness and funding for autism research will be raised by Autism Speaks walks across North America. The public communications power of entertainment and political stars such as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Toni Braxton, Bill Cosby, Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Simon and many others, has been harnessed to raise awareness and funds for research. Legislative initiatives such as Senator Clinton's recent Expanding the Promise initiative in the US Senate have been undertaken. The Autism Every Day video featured at the Sundance Film Festival has helped the world move past the Rain Man/Savant stereotypes and understand some of the harsher realities faced by many autistic persons and their families.

As the parent of a profoundly autistic 11 year old boy in New Brunswick Canada I have been involved in autism advocacy for 8 years. Lack of knowledge by important government decision makers and by members of the public has been a huge obstacle to overcome in trying to improve the life prospects of autistic persons in our neck of the woods. The incredible media power of Autism Speaks, the focus on doing something positive for persons with autism, has helped, and will continue to help all of us fighting for improved treatment, education and residential care for persons with autism - wherever we live.

Thank you Autism Speaks.